Story By: Michael Yao Kunke
The Abrem Agona Circuit has renewed its commitment to raising education standards following a highly engaging School Performance Appraisal Meeting (SPAM) held on Tuesday, 4th November, 2025, at the Catholic Church in Agona. The gathering brought together headteachers, parents, assembly members, education officials, and students to evaluate recent BECE results and chart a collective path toward improved teaching and learning outcomes.
The meeting opened with strong calls for accountability and unity. Chairman of the Agona Circuit PTA, Mr Emmanuel Abaidoo, expressed concern about the continued underperformance of some schools even as he commended institutions that have maintained steady progress. He encouraged all stakeholders to take a proactive stance in reversing declining trends and prioritising education as a shared responsibility.
Delivering an address on the theme “Enhancing Standards through Effective Appraisal Collaboration,” Mr Francis Henry Hinankwa Fosu, Chairman of COHBS–Agona, underscored the value of teamwork and consistent performance evaluation. He stressed that collaboration and mutual accountability remain central to achieving meaningful improvements in the circuit.
The SISO of Abrem Agona, Henry Amartey, offered a candid assessment of student performance, pointing to the example of Eguafo School. He noted that increased visibility, particularly through positive portrayal on the Kwesiedum Online Facebook page has helped shift perceptions of the school as a remote and under-resourced institution. Amartey emphasised the critical role of electricity in ICT education and criticised parents resisting the payment of utility bills and support for extra classes. He linked this trend to a sharp drop in BECE performance from 86% to 65%.
He highlighted ongoing collaborations with the Michael Kunke Foundation, which has supported schools with essential supplies, reroofed the Eguafo Junior High School after storm damage, and established ICT centres in selected schools. These interventions, he noted, have contributed significantly to improved student enrolment and performance.
Throughout the meeting, headteachers presented analyses of their school performance and outlined a range of challenges affecting teaching and learning. These included staff shortages leading to multi-grade classrooms, rising cases of teenage pregnancy, inadequate study time, lack of textbooks, poor communication between parents and teachers, high absenteeism, limited parental commitment to child development, and weak infrastructure that is often exposed during the rainy season. Issues such as lateness, poor language proficiency, insufficient exam preparation, lack of ICT facilities, inadequate furniture, poor attendance at PTA meetings, and discipline concerns were also raised as major barriers to progress. Some schools also cited the lack of teacher accommodation and the burden of students missing classes due to community funerals.
Students echoed many of these concerns, pointing specifically to inadequate ICT access, furniture shortages, and inconsistent teaching quality.
Representing the Municipal Education Directorate, Miss Rebecca Buckman stressed the importance of strengthening parent school collaboration to uplift standards. She urged parents to emulate private schools by ensuring their children have the necessary textbooks and materials. She also encouraged headteachers to communicate textbook requirements before vacation periods to reduce delays in procurement. The Directorate pledged continued support with a focus on strengthening core subject delivery and assisting learners preparing for mock examinations.
Assembly Members present reaffirmed their commitment to supporting schools in the Agona Circuit and pledged to sustain engagement aimed at improving BECE outcomes.
In his closing remarks, Henry Amartey encouraged both heads and students to aspire to excellence despite existing challenges. He thanked all stakeholders for their active participation and reiterated the need for unity among teachers, parents, and the wider community to enhance learner performance and overall educational quality. He reminded parents and community members to support school leadership initiatives rather than impede progress.
Headteachers were tasked with setting clear targets for the 2026 BECE, while parents and teachers were urged to deepen collaboration to strengthen Agona Circuit’s academic reputation.
The meeting drew participation from all headteachers within the Agona Circuit, SMC committee members, assembly representatives, parents, students, and a representative from the KEEA Education Circuit.
